Washington, February 15 (IANS). US forces intercepted and boarded another oil tanker belonging to Venezuela in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon said on Sunday.
The Pentagon said in a statement on social media platform X that the vessel, named Veronica III, was tracked by US authorities from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean and then stopped and inspected. “Overnight, U.S. forces conducted operations on Veronica III without incident in INDOPACOM’s area of responsibility,” the statement said.
America says that the ship was trying to escape the sanctions imposed under the President’s order.
The US Defense Department said that international maritime zones are not a safe place for any illegal activity.
It was reported that the ship is a Panama-flagged oil tanker and is accused of violating oil sanctions related to Iran and Venezuela.
According to the report, the ship was carrying about 19 lakh barrels of crude oil and fuel oil and has been involved in the transportation of oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela since 2023.
The US President in December ordered a “complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers bound for Venezuela.
Last week also, the US Army stopped and investigated another tanker in the Indian Ocean.
The US says it will enforce sanctions everywhere—on land, air and sea.
US President Donald Trump in December ordered a complete ban on all US-sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
This ban has been in place since the US action on January 3 and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“International waters are not a safe place. By land, air, or sea, we will find you and bring you to justice. The Department of Defense will not allow illegal actors and their allies freedom of movement in the maritime domain,” the US Defense Department said in a post on Sunday.
According to the maritime intelligence firm, Veronica III departed Venezuela on January 3, 2026, the same day Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was captured, and was carrying about 1.9 million barrels of crude and fuel oil.
–IANS
AMT/DKP
